MMMM 2006 : 2006


Roddick, Robredo fail to grab their Masters Cup chances

Masters Cup hopefuls Andy Roddick and Tommy Robredo lost ground in their qualification chase with losses while fellow hopeful Fernando Gonzalez advanced without firing a shot Thursday at the Madrid Masters.


(dpa) Roddick, provisional fourth in the race to next month's eight-man Masters Cup in Shanghai, limped through to a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 losing conclusion against Czech Tomas Berdych, with the American re-injuring an ankle in the second set.

American Robby Ginepri put out Spain's seventh-seeded Tommy Robredo in a win decided by an instant replay, taking victory 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Robredo missed his chance to launch past Shanghai provisional sixth James Blake, a loser on Wednesday. The Spaniard still trails the American by a point with just two more full weeks of the tennis season remaining.

But Gonzales, lingering on distant 12th position for the season-ender, advanced when huge-hitting Swede Joachim Johansson pulled out before their match with a sore throat.

Roger Federer and defending champion Rafael Nadal, the only men confirmed for the China field, were both looking strictly for the Madrid quarter-finals.

Federer, playing the event for the first time in three years, was facing Swede Robin Soderling while Nadal was to play German Tommy Haas in front of a night-time sellout at the Madrid arena.

Roddick said his ankle now throws his playing schedule in doubt.

"I'm in pretty good qualifying shape, I'm pretty close to confirmed," said the American. "The priority right now is to get the ankle healthy.

"I'm not totally sure what the upside is to trying to play on a bum ankle. We're just going to have to play it day-to-day.

"I'm not going to make any decisions right now or this afternoon. We'll probably see how it pulls up tomorrow and the day after that."




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